Granting a wish for Dustin WestSeven-year-old Dustin West (pictured front, right of center) of Danville, who has been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, was granted his wish, a shopping spree, from the Make A Wish Foundation this weekend. West and his family were picked up from their home in Danville by limousine Saturday morning and driven to their first destination for their shopping spree, GameStop in Russellville. West continued his shopping spree at GameExcha...

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THE COURIER / Joshua MashonThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Comprehensive inspection underway at ANOThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has begun a comprehensive inspection to assess the depth and breadth of the problems affecting performance at Arkansas Nuclear One (ANO), which is receiving the highest level of NRC scrutiny. The plant is operated by Entergy Operations. A team of 25 inspectors will devote about 3,600 hours of effort to independently assess and document the adequacy of Entergy programs and processes used to identify, eval...

Fort Smith police search for 2 juveniles in fatal shooting FORT SMITH — Authorities are searching for two teenage brothers in the off-campus shooting death of a University of Arkansas at Fort Smith student. Police say 22-year-old Kaleb Watson was shot Saturday during a suspected robbery at a home in Fort Smith. He later died at a hospital. On Tuesday, police said they were searching for two brothers in connection with the home invasion and shooting death. Fort Smith police say the 16-year-old and 15-y...

Latham hired at Bealls BarclayBeall Barclay & Company PLC recently hired Paula Latham as Accounting Service Provider. Latham is a 48 year resident of the River Valley and has over 20 years of experience. For assistance with bookkeeping, payroll and tax filing, call 479-498-9655.

Warrior Nation mourns loss of Kaleb WatsonLAMAR — When two unidentified men shot and killed Lamar graduate and University of Arkansas-Fort Smith student Kaleb Watson, they couldn’t have known their actions would send a ripple of grief across Warrior Nation. “There’s no way to convey it,” David Meador, a guidance counselor at Lamar High School, said. “Those guys [the suspects], whatever they were after — who knows? They don’t realize what they took in the process. He’s the kind of kid ...

Aldermen discuss wrecker ordinanceThe Russellville City Council conducted the first reading of an ordinance during its regular meeting last week that would establish participation in the city’s wrecker call service and also repeal Ordinances 1853 and 1890, passed in 2005. Police Chief Jeff Humphrey said one of the big things the new ordinance would do is remove the fixed fees on towing vehicles. Copies of the ordinance were given to all wrecker owners, and they seemed satisfie...

A&P revenues set recordThe Russellville Advertising and Promotion (A&P) Commission celebrated a new record for tax revenues during its regular meeting last week. Executive Director Christie Graham reported that hotel tax revenues surpassed $418,000 for 2015, and there are still two properties that have not turned in their collections. The previous record year for tax revenue was $372,385 in 2014, while $367,561 was collected in 2013. In other business, commissioners...

Chambers elected as chairmanJohn Ed Chambers III of Danville was elected by his fellow trustees to serve as 2016 chairman of the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees during a meeting at the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center on Thursday. Chambers, chief executive officer of Chambers Bank, is in his third term as a member of the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees. He first served on the board from 1994-99. In 2007 and 2012, he was appointed to five-year ter...

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BY SAM STRASNER arkansastechnews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Community photo: ACMEBrian Faulkner, Arkansas Center for Music Education (ACME) Vice President Board of Directors and Shirley Faulkner, ACME Executive Director are pictured with Kiwanian Harvey Young. ACME is a 501(c)3 tax-deductible non-profit organization whose goal is to provide quality and affordable music education, in-classroom instruction and instrumental and vocal ensembles to students — pre-Kindergarten to adult — who would not otherwise have such an educ...

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THE COURIER / SubmittedThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Dover Chamber holds annual banquet, recognizes Citizen of YearThe Dover Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year said in his younger days he was ashamed to admit where he was from. With age, a lot of things have changed, including his outlook on his hometown. “Now when someone asks me where I’m from, I say I’m from right there up around Booger Hollow,” said Robert Dale, this year’s award recipient. “I can truly say to each and every one of you that I love you. I’m proud to be a hillbilly now.” Dale, who w...

Wards arrested, released on bondSidney Lee Ward, 69, and Donna Ward 41, both of Belleville, surrendered to Sheriff’s investigators on Monday. Yell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey announced Monday the arrest of the two individuals stemming from an investigation conducted by the Arkansas Legislative Audit at the request of Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum II of Danville. Chief Deputy John Foster said that the investigation began in August 2015, after questions arose about financial a...

News Briefs (Jan. 26, 2016)• Chambers annual banquet in February The Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Passport to Success banquet from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 2, at the Cyclone Arena on the campus of Russellville High School. The banquet will have approximately 300 prominent business and government leaders and will feature a catered dinner, silent auction and an awards ceremony. The special guest speaker will be NFL referee and Arkansas business...

Bridge results (Jan. 25, 2016)Monday Duplicate Bridge met on Jan. 18, at the Russellville Senior Wellness and Activity Center. The first place North/South winners were Bill Barton and Gordon Thornsberry. The second place North/South winners were Trilby Maul and Randy Reehm. The first place East/West winners were Carole Barton and Vernon Collins. Tom Hlass and Joe Moore tied for second place East/West with Michiko Bowman and Dora Manly. The next game will be at 12:30 p.m. o...

Cooper — EcholsMindy Cooper and Derick Echols were married at 4 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2015, at the Lake Point Conference Center in Russellville. Mindy is the daughter of Hal and Beth Cooper of Russellville. Derick is the son of Beulah Echols of Brooklyn, N.Y. The bride was given in marriage by her father. She wore a white, satin mermaid style dress with a sweetheart neckline. It had seed pearls, crystals and gold beading along the bodice. Her veil was a waist-leng...

Roberts — HockerSloane Ashton Roberts and Zach Hocker are happy to announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage. The bride-elect is the daughter of John and Michelle Roberts of Rison, Ark. She has one younger brother, John Chandler Roberts. Sloane is a 2010 graduate of Rison High School. She attended the University of Arkansas, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Communication. The prospecti...

The Williams Brothers and Friends BandThe Williams Brothers and Friends Band features local musicians Leo Eddleman, electric bass; George Keith, rhythm guitar; Vickie Keith, vocalist; Aubry William, mandolin and banjo; Leamond Williams, lead guitar; Francis Jones, fiddle. The band spends their time playing local shows at the following times and places: • 2 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at the Dardanelle Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. • 2 p.m. on the second and four...

Club News: Pope County Retired Teachers’ meetingThe Pope County Retired Teachers met on Dec. 10, 2015, for their monthly meeting at the Brookdale Retirement Residence. Refreshments were served and the meeting was called to order. President Teeter welcomed everyone, especially the first time attendees, Pat Collins, Frankie Casey and Grace Henderson. Irene Edgar gave the invocation. Rebecca Hill informed everyone about the Christmas poinsettia deliveries. She said that 24 had been delivered, ...